The thresholds at a glance
The EU driving licence categories share their names, but the band between 3,500 and 4,250 kg is handled differently from country to country. This guide names the country for every rule. For other countries, check with the national licensing authority.
Is a category B licence enough for a boat trailer?
In Germany, category B covers cars up to 3,500 kg with a trailer up to 750 kg maximum authorised mass, or with a heavier trailer as long as the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg [1]. The Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy set the same limits [3] [4] [5] [6].
For small boats this is rarely a problem: a trailer rated at 750 kg falls under category B behind any car of up to 3,500 kg. It gets tight with bigger trailers behind heavy cars. A trailer rated at 1,300 kg fits a plain category B licence in these five countries only behind a car with a maximum authorised mass of 2,200 kg or less.
Maximum authorised mass or real weight: what counts?
For the licence, the maximum authorised mass in the vehicle documents counts, not what the rig weighs on a scale. Germany adds up the maximum authorised masses of both vehicles, without the nose weight [1]. The Dutch government gives an example: a trailer rated at 750 kg that weighs 150 kg empty may carry 600 kg, and it is not about the actual weight [3].
This is the most common mistake: a light boat on a heavy trailer does not make the trailer lighter for licence purposes. When buying a trailer on a category B licence, look at its maximum authorised mass, not only its payload.
Check your combination
Enter the figures from your vehicle documents and pick the country where you drive. The presets are the trailers we offer for SeaStorm boats.
Towing check
Can I tow this boat trailer?
Enter the figures from your vehicle documents. The licence category depends on the maximum authorised masses, not on what the rig actually weighs.
Your licence covers this combination
- Category B: trailer up to 750 kg or combination up to 3,500 kg
- Extension (code 96, training or test depending on the country): combination up to 4,250 kg
- Category BE: trailer up to 3,500 kg
The towing capacity covers any load: trailer rated 750 kg, car may tow 750 kg.
The rules by country
| Country | Category B | 3,500 to 4,250 kg | Category BE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | trailer ≤ 750 kg or combination ≤ 3,500 kg [1] | code 96 after driver training [2] | trailer ≤ 3,500 kg [1] |
| Netherlands | trailer ≤ 750 kg or combination ≤ 3,500 kg [3] | B+ (code 96) [3] | trailer ≤ 3,500 kg [3] |
| France | trailer ≤ 750 kg or combination ≤ 3,500 kg [4] | code 96 after a 7-hour course [4] | trailer ≤ 3,500 kg, combination above 4,250 kg [8] |
| Spain | trailer ≤ 750 kg or combination ≤ 3,500 kg [5] | after a skills test or a training course [5] | trailer ≤ 3,500 kg [5] |
| Italy | trailer ≤ 750 kg or combination ≤ 3,500 kg [6] | after a test, entered as an EU code [6] | trailer ≤ 3,500 kg [6] |
How much may my car tow?
The licence is one limit, the car is the other. In Germany, the towed load must not exceed the permitted value for the car; for an ordinary car that is at most its own maximum authorised mass [7]. The Dutch government likewise points out that the towing limit must be higher than what trailer and load weigh together [3].
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Read the maximum authorised masses
From the documents of car and trailer. Their sum decides between B, code 96 and BE.
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Read the towing capacity
The value for braked or unbraked trailers, whichever matches yours.
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Weigh the rig
Trailer with boat, engine, full tank and gear on a public weighbridge. The result must stay below the towing capacity.
And with a SeaStorm?
For SeaStorm boats we offer trailers rated at 500, 750 and 1,300 kg. The two smaller ones are unbraked and always fall under category B in the five countries above. The 1,300 kg trailer for the SeaStorm 17 is braked; whether category B is enough depends on your car’s maximum authorised mass and on the country. The hulls weigh between 200 kg (SeaStorm 12) and 380 kg (SeaStorm 17) without engine, so weigh the finished rig anyway.
If you would rather not tow yourself, we deliver to your door. The page on buying and delivery explains how, and the guide How much horsepower does a boat need? helps with the engine.
This guide is not legal advice. The national rules, your vehicle documents and, if in doubt, the licensing authority are binding.